Moving to America with Wife and daughter

[Thanyaburi Mac]

That figure looks to be from here:  http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-864p.pdf

 

Mac

[kleelof]

Thanks. The amount of information on this entire subject is so overwhelming and it seems for each thing, I have to check several sources to get the full picture. Almost like they don't want anyone to do this.

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Well, it is the Government, after all, just trying to be helpful, like the IRS....

 

Here's the basic info on Affidavit of Support:

 

http://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/affidavit-support

 

Mac

[kleelof]

When I lived in America I worked in restaurants. So I worked with and became friends with many immigrants both legal and illegal from 'south of the border'. I never had any problems. And, in fact, was all for them coming. 

 

Now, I have to say, I am a bit annoyed that it is possible for them to just cross the border and, if they manage to stay long enough, become legal. Yet, I have to jump through all these hoops to get my legal wife I have been married to for 7 years into the country.

[AaronLV]

To summarize all my posts above, you can have those sums of money you mentioned above, and still be told to essentially "get a job". 

 

The reason it is so maddening is as I mentioned, it is their form. If you don't want people to get out without the assets, don't have that option. In my case I am still very upset about it, and will always be, because I took a huge portion of funds out of Thai stocks (something I did not want to do), to "prove" I had cash and was ready to move it with me. The stock market then shot up, and some may say this is neither here nor there, it could have gone down too, but to me it is just so ridiculous. 

 

The problem as I see it is that they say you can do things on the form, as you have lined out above, they they say you can't do that later, after you have kinda turned your world over to prove it to them. 

 

I also was left wondering how I could prove to them I have physical gold. How in the world would I do this, have it appraised? Couldn't I just be bringing in my friend's gold? So, I ended up begrudgingly selling gold too, something I did not want to do. 

 

I don't feel anyone should bend over backwards, I feel they should simply honor the statements that are on their own forms like asset requirements for example. 

 

 

There is no requirement to have a job, there is only a requirement to have some form of income and/or combination of assets.   Depending on what visa you are applying for, the embassy does have some leeway in applying the rules (ie. K1/K3 lots of leeway, CR/IR1 not so much as it is based on Adjustment of Status standards).   Most of the embassies in SE Asia will not accept co-sponsors for K1, however they will for CR/IR 1.  Also with K1 they say you can do it based on 3X the assets, but most of them require 5X assets as they know that is the threshold when you goto AOS in the states.   I know people who have gone through both and been successful with and without employment.

 

There is an appeals process which sounds like you should have gone through rather than throwing in the towel.   As far as physical gold without some kind of appraisal and a secure place that it can be accounted for I am not sure how you would have proved you owned it, short of wheeling it into the embassy.  Stocks, property, cars, have titles, and are tangible.   I am guessing you should have converted that to cash rather then the stocks,

 

You don't have to bend over backwards for them, you just need all the forms filled out properly and the documentation to back it up.   They might ask for more information, but you produce it.  I learned quickly in the process give them what they ask for, and it goes smooth, try to be smarter than them, and it gives them a reason to make your life difficult.  Being a consular would be the last job I would want, as there are lots of USC's that think they rule the world and the government owes them everything.

[AaronLV]

When I lived in America I worked in restaurants. So I worked with and became friends with many immigrants both legal and illegal from 'south of the border'. I never had any problems. And, in fact, was all for them coming. 

 

Now, I have to say, I am a bit annoyed that it is possible for them to just cross the border and, if they manage to stay long enough, become legal. Yet, I have to jump through all these hoops to get my legal wife I have been married to for 7 years into the country.

This was my frustration also when I started.   Now going through the entire process start to finish (K1->USC).  After the expense, time, and emotions of doing it the correct way.  I am against anybody in the US illegally getting PR without going through the process like the rest of us.

[kleelof]

 

When I lived in America I worked in restaurants. So I worked with and became friends with many immigrants both legal and illegal from 'south of the border'. I never had any problems. And, in fact, was all for them coming. 

 

Now, I have to say, I am a bit annoyed that it is possible for them to just cross the border and, if they manage to stay long enough, become legal. Yet, I have to jump through all these hoops to get my legal wife I have been married to for 7 years into the country.

This was my frustration also when I started.   Now going through the entire process start to finish (K1->USC).  After the expense, time, and emotions of doing it the correct way.  I am against anybody in the US illegally getting PR without going through the process like the rest of us.

 

Well, for now I will say I don't think this will change my opinions about illegals. However, we will see how I feel a year or so from now when I'm in America without my wife.

[AlexDorneles]

You don't need to make 27k yourself. You can find a friend or family member that can "sponsor" or be the guarantor if you don't make enough. A friend of mine could not prove he made enough so he asked a family member to be the sponsor for the proof of income. Please note that the sponsor needs to show the last 2 yrs of income. You will need to find someone who is willing to hand over to you his IRS income fillings.

best of luck

[CWMcMurray]

Do you have any savings ? Believe it is 3 times earnings requirements...

Or another alternative is to use a co-sponsor ... Do you have parent or family members that would help by listing as co-sponsor?

If so, this can help avoid the need for you to go to US first on your own and get a job ...

[cardinalblue]

At 3x earnings that 81K. I will assume that has to be non-retirement accounts vs property assets or retirement accounts?

And for a family of 3 then 243k even though 2 are US citizens?

CB

[daboyz1]

At 3x earnings that 81K. I will assume that has to be non-retirement accounts vs property assets or retirement accounts?

And for a family of 3 then 243k even though 2 are US citizens?

CB

 

They look at household size when computing the income requirements, so the citizenship of the household members isn't relevant.